Fly tipping and pollution
Trashy behaviour costs: Walsall Council takes litterbugs to court
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Walsall Council has successfully prosecuted five individuals for littering in the borough.
All five perpetrators will now pay hundreds of pounds in fines for dropping their waste irresponsibly.
“ We remain firm in our commitment to holding individuals accountable for their blatant disregard for our borough.
It is truly shocking to see offenders discarding waste just feet away from public litter bins, showing complete disrespect for the communities that strive for a clean and pleasant environment.
I am proud of the consistent success of these prosecutions and highly commend our dedicated community protection team for their relentless efforts in ensuring these cases are thoroughly pursued.
My message to perpetrators is simple, we are watching you and we will catch you should you choose to treat our borough as a tip. “
Miss Rebekah Price of Howley Grange Road, Halesowen, disposed of a plastic bottle from a car on Forge Street, Wednesbury, on 1 March 2024.
Magistrates heard the case at Birmingham court on 17 July 2024. Price was fined £220 for the offence, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £88, and associated costs of £180, bringing the total fine to £488.
Mr Rasham Singh of Grasmere Close, Birmingham, threw takeaway food packaging out of a car and onto Pelsall High Street on 1 May 2024.
Singh was fined £146 for littering, an £85 victim surcharge and other costs of £58. Singh now faces £289 total in fines.
24 days later, on 25 May 2024, Mr. Kai Williams of Wappenbury Road, Coventry, left takeaway food packaging on the same High Street. Notably, Williams was parked directly opposite a public litter bin.
Williams' laziness cost him £40 fine and a £16 victim surcharge, bringing his total fines to £141.
In another act of carelessness, Mr Edmond Oshobughie of Hornsey Road, Birmingham, dumped takeaway food packaging next to a public litter bin on the Chester Road Layby, Walsall.
If Oshobughie only cared to dispose of the litter responsibly, it would have saved him the £360 fine he was ordered to pay. This included a £200 fine, £80 victim surcharge, and £80 in other costs.
Mr Ben Clews of Curlew Drive, Brownhills, dropped a drinks container out of his car at Oak Park Leisure Centre in Walsall Wood.
Clews was fined £220 for littering, an £88 victim surcharge of £88, and other costs of £276.72. Clews now faces £584.72 in total fines.
Mr Rasham Singh of Birmingham, littering in Pelsall High Street
Mr Kai Williams of Coventry, littering in Pelsall High Street
Mr Edmond Oshobughie of Birmingham, littering in Chester Road, Walsall
Mr Ben Clews of Brownhills, littering in Oak Park Leisure Centre
Ends
Notes to editors
• Every person who litters is offered the opportunity to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice of £150 or £120 if they pay within 14 days.
• If the payment is not paid then litter cases have to be laid before the court within six months of the incident occurring. The court then sets a date for when the case will be heard by a Magistrate or Judge.
• If found guilty in a court of law, the person who has littered receives a fine which is generally much larger than the Fixed Penalty Notice, makes a contribution to Victims of Crime costs and pays the councils costs for bringing the case. They also have a criminal record which can affect many aspects of their lives including chances of employment, getting insurance and enrolling in education (https://www.dbschecks.org.uk/how-a-criminal-record-affects-your-life/ )
There are two household waste recycling centres in the borough of Walsall which are free to use: Fryers Road, Bloxwich and Merchants Way, Aldridge.
• The council offers a bulky items collection service for residents who may struggle to take larger items to a household waste recycling centre. This can be booked through the council website.
• Residents who are struggling to manage their household waste, for example because of a growing family or an ongoing medical condition, can apply for a larger bin through the council’s website.
